I just bought a like-new Jupiter 547GL Deluxe soprano

[Al Stevens]

I bought this on ebay from a seller who lives not far from me.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=009&item=190018332069

I picked it up yesterday on the way to a gig. It's in mint condition. The Jupiter tag is still on the case. The owner had not played it much. He also had new Jupiter tenor and alto saxes and is just learning.

When I tried to blow the sop, it was unplayable from D on the staff up. I blamed the plastic mpc and hard reed (the notes I could play sounded good), paid for it, tossed it in the car and went to work.

This morning I looked closely at it and saw that the octave key thingie wasn't closing when it should. The spring had slipped off its retaining pin. I pushed it back in place and the horn plays fine.

Good intonation when I pay close attention. I need a better mpc. My tone sucks. The recommendations given to me in another thread give me a place to start. The horn came with a box of vandoren 2.5s but I might get something softer. Playing this thing really tires my chops.

[Tom Goodrick]

I think 2.5's are a good place to start. I used vandoren ZZ 2.5's for the first six months. Then when trying some wider pieces I bought a box of ZZ 2.0 reds and found they were the secret to playing .060 and wider. But then I found they were great on the medium Selmers too (E at .053 and F at .057). I would stick with the 2.5 reeds but you might try the ZZ cut. It seems a little more forgiving, especially with the low notes. Try mouthpieces from .045 to .053 in the beginning. I made the mistake of getting a Bari .066 at first because it was a match for my Rovner 7 on tenor. That was foolish. I can now play the .066 ( after a year) but do not like it.

[Dave Dolson]

Tom: I use soft reeds on an open piece (SS-J) but ALWAYS have to shave down even the #2 Javas I usually use (and EVEN some 1 1/2 Javas for alto I picked up a while back). Reeds right out of the box don't work for me. But once prepped, I love 'em on open pieces. DAVE

[64sax]

Congrats!

As I said in the other thread (http://www.saxontheweb.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=43539), I similarly received my 547BL today.

My mouthpiece only says Jupiter, and I’m pretty sure it’s plastic. Aren’t the ESM-made 4C’s hard rubber?